India, July 31 -- Indian students are facing increasingly difficult odds of securing Australian student visas, with latest government data showing a sharp decline in visa approvals even as India remains one of Australia's largest international education markets.

According to the data released by Australia's Department of Home Affairs, applications for higher education visas from India declined during the 2025-26 financial year, contributing to an overall 3 per cent fall in offshore student visa applications. The slowdown coincided with a broader decline in demand from key source markets, led by a 26% fall in applications from China.

Nepal and Bangladesh registered increases in applications, but higher refusal rates meant visa approvals ...